Device for producing stage-rain.



N LINTON. DEVICE FOR PRODUCING STAGE RAIN.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25,1912.

Patented Aug. 11,1911

OFFICE.

NETTIE matron; or ALLABEN, new YORK.

DEVICE- FOR PRODUCING STAGE-RAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 11, 1914.

8 Application filed March 2 5, 1912. Serial No. 686,055.

To allwhom it mag concern: Be it known that I, Nn'r'rm LINTON, residing at Allaben, in thecounty of Ulster and State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Devices for Producing Stage-Rain, of which the following is a specification. Y

My invention which will be hereinafter fully set forth and claimed relates to stage efi'ects and particularly to devices for producing the optical efiect of rain, for stage purposes and the like.

The object of my invention is a device for producing with simple and inexpensive means theoptical effect or illusion of rain.

In the drawings, which will be understood to be nore or less diagrammatic;Figure 1 is an elevation of the interior of a window, fitted With my device. Fig. 2 shows the same window on the exterior and disclosing more of the means of producing the efi ect. Fig. 3 may be regarded as a plan or transverse (horizontal) section of the same on line 3-, 3, Figs. land 2. Fig. 4: is a vertical section of the same on line 4, 4, and Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective on a larger scale, showing a manner of suspending a part of the device. i

In the drawing, my device is applied to the limited space of a window, for the sake of compactness, but it will be understood that it is applicable to more extended scenes and in fact to scenes stretching entirely across the stage. 1

W is a window formed in a scene piece S and fitted with blind, B, and curtains, O; the latter on a pole, 0, and caught in the lower ends in loops 0. These parts are nonessential in my device and merely shown for "the sake of completeness of the display and Fig. 1 represents the same as seen from the auditorium, while Fig. 2 is a view as seen from the rear or stage side. 1

'The space behind which therain efi'ect is to appear, being in this case the space of the window W which is usually supposed to be glazed, is covered with gauze, denoted in the drawing by the letter G and upon which,

in the present instance, the bars 0 (Figs. 1 and 2) aresecured Silk gauze has proved to be particularly well suited for certain effects, but other gauzes may be used.

At the rear and above thesofiit of the window, conveniently on a rail, 2, forming part of the scene piece S, Flg. 2, are secured a pair of brackets, 3, adapted to swivel form of a curtain, a series of cords, strings or bands, 8, of a glittering characterordinary tinsel has been found to answer the purpose very well. One end-ring, marked 6 for the sake of distinction, is secured to be stationary in its place and thus prevented from sliding on the rod 5, as the other rings are free to do, like ordinary rings on a curtain pole. The other end-ring has two cords or strings, 9, and 10, secured to it, one passed through a stationary eye, such as the eye on the end of the rod 5, and has its end suspended to be operated by hand (Fig, 2) or otherwise, and the other, 9, is passed through all the other rings and its end suspended. This latter serves to draw all the rings to one end and thus clear the window from the strings 8 when the operation of the device is not desired. The cord 10 serves also to give a vibratory motion to the rod 5, the cord 7 and the strings, 8, such motion being aided by the springs 4.

A strong light is thrown from a reflector lamp, L, Fig. 2, between the gauze G and the curtain of strings 8, so that its main effectis on the latter. Rays of light are indicated at L in Figs. 2 and 3. The strings 8 being light and thus assuming a more or less undulatory vertical line, give broken reflections from their glittering parts when the light is thrown on them and a slight vibratory motion given to them by means of the cord 10, which imitates torrents of rain with great realistic efiect when seen through the gauze Gr.

Itwill be seen that no water whatsoever is used, the effect being produced by gauze, glittering strings, light-reflections and a vibratory movement of the strings.

I claim as my invention 1. In a stage eflect for rain, the combinationof a scene piece having an opening in it formed for a window, silk gauze covering said opening and having window bars formed onit, a curtain formed of strings of tinsel suspended at one end at the rear of said gauze and some distance from it, a cord from which said strings of tinsel depend, rings secured to said cord, a curtain rod upon which said rings are strung, a spring at each end of and supporting said rod, a bracket secured to the scene piece at each end of said rod and supporting said springs, cords secured to one end-ring by means of Which the rings may be moved along the rod and a vibratory motion given to the curtain and a lamp throwing lightupon the front of the curtain from the rear of the gauze, substantially asset forth. v

-aI1-1a' stage effect for rain, a WiIlClOW having the opening covered with gauze, a curtain formed of suspended strings'of tinsel attl'ie rear and a little distance from the gauze, means of opening and closing said curtain, 'means of giving a vibratory motion to said curtain and means ofthroWing lightreflections onto the front of said curtain but from the rearof the gauze, substantially as set forth. v In a stage efiect for rain, the combination of a surface formed of gauze covering the opening forming the view, a curtain red,

at thferear of the gauze and above the soifit ofthe openmg,'spr1ngs on whlch'said rod is V1,"! /,,l f g i.

same, substantially as set forth.

4:. In'a stage effect for rain, the combination of a surface of gauze covering an opening forming the View, a curtain formed of depending strings "of glittering material suspended at the rear of the gauze, Inean's'ffor throwing light-reflections "on thefront of said curtain frbm the rear of the gauze and means of giving a vibratorymotion-to' said curtain, ntmn asset fat-11 o g In testimony whereof I aflixedmy i ture, in presence' oftwo subscribing "Witnesses. i V ET'EIE Witnesses: V

iHA RRY B. Lm'roN,

A. HAnvEY.

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Washington, D. 0 

